During 2008, a quarter of American adults had visited a casino. In 1989, only a third of that number had attended college. In 2008, 24% of Americans had graduated from college and a third had earned some college credit. However, nearly half of all Americans had never attended college. The numbers suggest that people are attracted to casinos by the thrill of winning. But are casinos truly good for your health? Here are some things to remember before you step into a casino.

Handle: A casino’s overall handle reflects how much money is won and lost on each gaming device. This measure combines average bets, average game speed, and the amount of time that each gaming device is in use. The average bet is a key indicator of the casino’s profitability, as a higher average bet translates into more revenue for the casino. The more players a casino attracts, the higher its handle.

Casinos rely heavily on high rollers to make money. These players spend significantly more than average and play in separate rooms from the main floor. Their stakes can be in the tens of millions of dollars. In return, casinos make a great deal of money by rewarding these people with bonuses and other perks, including luxury suites and personal attention. In fact, if you’re willing to spend a lot of money, casinos are more likely to reward you.